The Milwaukee Brewers are back in action this weekend, as they’ll host the Miami Marlins to open up the second half of the season. Milwaukee, who limped into the break with a sweep at the hands of the Pirates in Pittsburgh, still sits atop the NL Central, with a five-game lead over the Cubs. They also own the second-best record in baseball at 59-37, just behind the 61-36 Dodgers.
The Marlins have also surged over the last month and a half, pushing themselves into the final NL Wild Card spot as of
the All-Star break at 52-45, just ahead of the Cardinals. They also suffered a sweep heading into the break, though, as they lost all three games against the Guardians in Cleveland.
Milwaukee’s IL remains pitcher-heavy, with Rob Zastryzny (late July), Brandon Woodruff (possibly out for season), Kyle Harrison (late July or August), Joel Kuhnel (late July or August), DL Hall (late July), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), Quinn Priester (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season) all on the IL. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge is still out with a knee injury that has kept him out since early May, but he’s nearing a rehab assignment, while infielder David Hamilton is looking at a late July return after suffering a strained hamstring right before the break.
The Marlins are without pitchers Michael Petersen (TBD), William Kempner (TBD), John King (TBD), Anthony Bender (late July), Josh Ekness (August), Andrew Nardi (September), Ronny Henriquez (out for season), and Adam Mazur (out for season). Outfielder Owen Caissie is the lone position player on the IL, and he’s looking at a late July return.
Milwaukee is led by Jake Bauers offensively, as he’s enjoying a career year with a .268/.373/.508 line and 18 homers through 87 games. Brice Turang has added 14 homers, and Jackson Chourio has 13. William Contreras and Gary Sánchez have been a solid backstop duo, while Garrett Mitchell has stayed healthy for the first time in his career *knock on wood*. Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, and Andrew Vaughn also play key roles, with David Ortiz, Luis Lara, Cooper Pratt, and Braden Shewmake rounding things out. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .254/.337/.398 (.735 OPS ranks tied for ninth), with 89 homers (tied for 28th), 489 runs (fourth), and 89 steals (tied for sixth).
Similar to Milwaukee, the Marlins aren’t a homer-heavy team, but they’ve found a balanced attack offensively this year. Heriberto Hernández and Liam Hicks are tied for the team lead with 13 homers each, with Kyle Stowers right behind then at 12 homers. Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards are both hitting over .300, creating a strong duo up the middle. Javier Sanoja, Jakob Marsee, Griffin Conine, and Joe Mack are among the other regulars, with Brian Navarreto, Leo Jiménez, Old Friend Esteury Ruiz, and Rece Hinds serving as depth. As a team, the Marlins are hitting .253/.330/.411 (.741 OPS ranks tied for sixth), with 98 homers (tied for 23rd), 439 runs (13th), and 101 steals (second).
Aaron Ashby still leads all of baseball with 12 wins, though he hasn’t been quite as unhittable over the last month or so, with a 3.56 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 55 2/3 innings this year. Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill have both been fantastic over the past couple of months, while Chad Patrick has bounced back nicely after a rough stretch in June, allowing just two runs over his last 11 innings. Grant Anderson, Jared Koenig, Craig Yoho, and Bryse Wilson round out the bullpen. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.48 team ERA (second), including a 3.40 starter ERA (first) and a 3.58 bullpen ERA (fifth). They’ve struck out 928 batters (second) over 858 2/3 innings.
Calvin Faucher leads the team with 40 appearances out of Miami’s bullpen, though he hasn’t been great, with a 4.31 ERA. Pete Fairbanks has a dismal 6.83 ERA but leads the team with 13 saves in 15 opportunities, and Michael Petersen and UW-Whitewater alumni Lake Bachar also figure prominently. Cade Gibson, Tyler Zuber, Dax Fulton, and Ryan Gusto round things out. As a staff, the Marlins have a 4.02 team ERA (10th), including a 4.25 starter ERA (14th) and a 3.69 bullpen ERA (seventh). They’ve struck out 815 batters (13th) over 854 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, July 17 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (3-1, 3.18 ERA, 2.47 FIP) vs. RHP Sandy Alcantara (10-5, 3.99 ERA, 3.78 FIP)
Henderson, 24, continues to shine in the majors, as he’s now 6-1 for his career with a 2.52 ERA, 2.73 FIP, and 67 strikeouts over 53 2/3 innings through 11 career starts. He’s earned the win in each of his last three outings, including a win in his return from injury on July 9 against the Cardinals, when he went 5 1/3 innings with three runs allowed and four strikeouts. This will mark Henderson’s first career appearance against Miami.
Alcantara, 30, continues to be an innings eater here in his ninth MLB season. He currently leads the league in starts (20) and innings pitched (130 2/3), with a 3.99 ERA, 3.78 FIP, and 100 strikeouts. The 2022 NL Cy Young winner took a loss in his last outing, though, as he allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings against the Guardians, striking out eight. Over eight career appearances (six starts) against Milwaukee, he has a 3.14 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 43 innings. He took a loss against the Brewers in Miami back in April, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and six walks, striking out one.
Saturday, July 18 @ 3:10 p.m.: LHP Shane Drohan (4-3, 3.09 ERA, 3.24 FIP) vs. RHP Max Meyer (9-1, 2.58 ERA, 3.53 FIP)
Drohan, 27, has made the most of his opportunities with the Brewers this year, as he’s now made 19 appearances (nine starts) with a 4-3 record, 3.09 ERA, 3.24 FIP, and 67 strikeouts over 70 innings. He took a tough luck loss in his last outing, though, as he allowed three runs on five hits and no walks while striking out six in a 3-2 loss to the Pirates. This marks Drohan’s first career appearance against Miami.
Meyer, 27, has put things together in his fourth year here in 2026, as he’s well on track to finish with positive bWAR for the first time in his career. He went 9-1 with a 2.58 ERA, 3.53 FIP, and 116 strikeouts over 108 innings in the first half, enough to earn him an All-Star selection. The right-hander went five-plus frames in his last appearance against the Mariners, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four in an extra-innings win. Meyer’s lone appearance against Milwaukee came back in 2024, when he went four innings with three runs allowed on four hits and two walks, striking out three in a no-decision.
Sunday, July 19 @ 1:10 p.m.: LHP Robert Gasser (2-4, 5.24 ERA, 5.28 FIP) vs. RHP Eury Pérez (5-7, 3.78 ERA, 4.26 FIP)
Gasser, also 27, hasn’t been nearly as good in season No. 3 as he was in his brief cameos in 2024 and 2025. The left-hander is just 2-4 with a 5.24 ERA, 5.28 FIP, and 43 strikeouts over 46 1/3 innings in nine starts this year, and he’s coming off his worst start yet. He went just three-plus innings in Sunday’s series finale in Pittsburgh, allowing seven runs on eight hits and a hit batter while striking out three. Gasser’s lone appearance against the Marlins came in his third career start back in 2024, when he went six innings with five runs allowed (four earned) on 10 hits and two hit batters, taking a no-decision as the Brewers would go on to win 7-5.
Pérez, 23, is in his third MLB season and continues to be a serviceable starter in the majors. Across 16 starts this year, Pérez is 5-7 with a 3.78 ERA, 4.26 FIP, and 95 strikeouts over 85 2/3 innings. The young right-hander has been especially good of late, allowing just five runs over his last six starts, spanning 33 1/3 innings (1.35 ERA) with 37 strikeouts. He’s made three career starts against Milwaukee, totaling 15 2/3 innings with a 2.30 ERA and 20 strikeouts. That includes a victory back in April, when he went six innings with one unearned run allowed on three hits and a walk, striking out seven.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, July 17: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, July 18: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, July 19: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Brewers are deploying a trio of young arms, while the Marlins are using their top three arms, which will make for a tough series, even at home. These are also a pair of fairly evenly matched offenses, so I’ll take the Marlins to sneak away with two of three.
